While Taunton isn’t covered by the red weather warning affecting central parts of the UK today, it’s still going to be a scorcher.

A Met Office amber alert remains in place for the region, stating the extreme weather conditions could lead to “widespread impacts on people and infrastructure”.

Along with the potential for serious illness or even “danger to life”, particularly in the vulnerable, the heatwave will inevitably impact coastal areas as people flock to cool off at the seaside, leading to increased risk of water safety incidents.

If you want to know just how hot it’s going to get today and when, here’s the hour-by-hour forecast.

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What weather warnings mean

Taunton Met Office weather forecast

Despite cloudy conditions and a small risk of showers, it should be a largely dry day. It is also set to be even hotter today than it was this weekend.

Here's what the Met Office are expecting each hour:

  • Midnight: Clear skies, 20C
  • 1am: Clear skies, 19C
  • 2am: Clear skies, 19C
  • 3am: Clear skies, 18C
  • 4am: Clear skies, 18C
  • 5am: Clear skies, 18C
  • 6am: Sunny intervals, 19C
  • 7am: Sunny intervals, 19C
  • 8am: Clear skies, 20C
  • 9am: Sunny intervals, 22C
  • 10am: Sunny intervals, 24C
  • 11am: Light showers, 26C
  • Midday: Sunny intervals, 29C
  • 1pm: Clear skies, 30C
  • 2pm: Clear skies, 31C
  • 3pm: Clear skies, 31C
  • 4pm: Clear skies, 31C
  • 5pm: Clear skies, 30C
  • 6pm: Clear skies, 30C
  • 7pm: Clear skies, 29C
  • 8pm: Clear skies, 28C
  • 9pm: Clear skies, 26C
  • 10pm: Clear skies, 25C
  • 11pm: Clear skies, 24C

How long will heatwave last - UK forecast

According to the Met Office, after today expect one more day of the extreme heat weather conditions, before it cools off on Wednesday to temperatures closer to normal for this time of year – around 21C.

Cloudier skies may even result in outbreaks of rain, possibly heavy in places.

Thursday is likely to see a return of dry conditions but with temperatures remaining similar to the previous day, it should feel a lot less stifling than it does right now.

Looking slightly further ahead in July, a Met Office spokesperson said: “Fine and dry weather is likely to arrive for many further into the period, as high pressure will slowly build over the UK at the start of next week.

“Southern parts may become warm to very warm again, while much of the north and northwest will see temperatures closer to normal.

“Approaching the end of July, the conditions may begin shifting to generally more unsettled.”